Automatically adjustable hydraulic mechanism



y 18, 1954 E. H. FITTER 2,528,845

AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HYDRAULIC MECHANISM Filed May 29, 19:32 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

INVENTOR Em L H. FFT'TEQ May 18, 1954 v E. H. FlTTER 2,678,845

AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HYDRAULIC MECHANISM Filed May 29, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Emu. H. FlTTEQ WmmflAmm ATTORNEYS May 18, 1 E. H. FITTER 2,673,845

AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE HYDRAULIC MECHANISM Filed May 29, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fii FL .8 2s

Ill

' INVENTOR .EMIL H. Frr'ren.

W W *0 I ATTORNEYS Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED smrss A -TENT OFFICE AUTOMATICALLY JUSTABLE HYDRAULIC MEGHANISM Emil Hr Fitter; 0mm; Nehru Atpliatibamayzsy 1952, serial Nos'zebnsd 6 Claims. (Cl. 299"69)= This-invention relates to hydraulically operated" devices; it and "more"particu1arlyto an automatically adjustable grinkli'ng mechanism?- A- main objeet'pf the invention is to provide novel and improved i automatically adjustable}- hydraulically operated i sprinkler i mechanism of the 'rotary type which i which reliable-in operationj' and which is designed to project water under pressure in a plurality offine streams to preselected distances 1 over selected circular-areas? il -further objeet of the F! invention is to "pro vide anamproved rotary: sprinkling mechanism which 1 involves inexpensive coinponerits', whichis sturdy in 'conStEuCtiOiH-and vvhioh is arranged to enable the user to 'vary the area covered by the sprinkler-dram a remote position and to change the I area covered by the sprinkler loy merely successively turning the Water on and "Off until-the sprinkler arranges itself to deli'ver water to provide the desired coveragei Further "objects and advantages of the inven tion Will -become apparent frorri the following description and c1aims, and from the "'aC'CO'mpanyi-ng drawings, wherein-c Figure 1 is top: view,*part1y cross sectioh;

sir'nple -in construction, Y

of air-improved rotary water sprinkler embodying an improved hydraulically operated mecha nism in accordance with the present invention. 1

Figure is a side elevation'al view; partlyiins cross se'ction; of the rotary sprinkler *oiFigure-L- Figure ii is an -en-larged cross 'sectional 'detail'f view taken on the line 3--3- of Figure 2.

Figure '4 "is "an enlarged cross*secti'ona'1" detailview taken on the line 64- -4 of Figure 2 Fi'gure '5 is an' enlarged' cross-sectionaldetail vieW-taken on the line-5- -=5 of Figure-2 Figure 6 is a group of cross sectional-detail views showing the valve memberof the lawn sprinklerof Figures 1 to-3 in three-diflierentposi-F tions,- providing three different sprinkler poverageareasa Figure --'7 isa fragmentary developed View :of

top and bottom peripheral portions of thevalv'e of the water sprinkler ofFi'gm'es 1 to" 3-a'nd the.

cooperating. camming pin elemnts'for 'rot'ating' I the valve member responsive tothe turning' on and 01 of the water supply to the sprinkler.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of. a modif fied-form oflawn sprinkler 'embodying the hydraulically operated mechanism of lthe present invention.

Figure" 9 is an: enlarged f ragmentaryrtop -p1andetailview of thehead-portion of the sprinkler of" Figure 8:

Figii're lo-is a vertit:al crosssectional"viWtakeh on-the line 58 -10 of Figure 9.

Fignre ll is a horizontal-cross sectional view taken onthe-line l i-il of Figure 10 The gardenihosa I1 is adapted to be connected toa water faucet or the like whichds provided with the usual valv'efill for 'turningl'the The conduit members It. includes the reducedupper portion I 8 "on which. is -rotatably mounted" thei-plugbflll'hbeli I 9 said plug 1 member being rotatably engaged on a shouldered portion m' atthe ton end of l the reduced conduit member i 8 1 and being retained on said shouldered portion by the outwardly extending: curved annular flange 2 i provided at the'top. end of conduit portion' 1 8,as shown in' Figured, a se'alingwasher 22 being interposed between the flange-2 l and the pluge member l S; Threadedly engaged on the'=- plugmember i 9 is the cylindricalsprinkler chain-,-

ber" 23, an annular sealing: gasket =24-being interposed between the bottomflange 25 of plug-mem-" ber lfi-and-thewbottom edgepof the cylindrical chamber--23; :as-shown in Figure 3e Secured to the' topl of-the cylindrical sprinkler chamber 23 is the centrallyapertured-cover plate 255.

Secured tothe chamber 23 and incommunication" therewith are the radiallyextending, di-

am'etricallyopposit'etubular arms 21, 21, the

iends' of said arms being closed by plug :elements 28; as shown in' Figure 1. l The arms 21 areformed-along their length with spaced apertures:

29, said apertures being spirally arranged on the arms 21; andbeing adapted to' discharge Water" ..-undeipressurertherethrough-ina-manner pro-" viding fa reaction tending to cause the arms and For examplepx the apertures-29 may be arranged in the manner shown in Figure 1, whereby a reaction will bedeveloped i-resulting from the discharge ofr.=.1the' sprinkler chamber 23 to rotate:

water-*sprayl through said apertures "which tends to rotatethe"sprinklerchamber 23 in a clockwise direction; as viewed in Figurerli The cylindrical sprinkler chamber :23 is formed-- with -threesets -ofsimilarly spaced apertures '36), 7

3| and 32 which are inclined upwardly and outwardly at respectively different angles. For example, the apertures 30 may be inclined upwardly and outwardly at an angle of 25, the apertures 3| may be inclined upwardly and outwardly at an angle of 35, and the apertures 32 may be inclined upwardly and outwardly at an angle of 45. Designated at 33 is a cylindrical valve member which is rotatably and slidacly mounted inside the cylindrical sprinkler chamber 23, said valve member being formed with a set of apertures 34 which are selectively registrable with any one of the sets of apertures 30, 3| and 32, as will be subsequently explained.

Secured in the upper portion of the cylindrical valve member 33 is a partition wall or disc 35. When water enters the sprinkler chamber 23, the pressure of the water forces the valve member33 upwardly, the upper portion of the sprinkler chamber 23 being vented to atmosphere through the central aperture 36 in the top cover 26 of the sprinkler chamber. The top and bottom peripheral edges of the valve member 33 are formed with the asymmetrical triangular cam teeth 3! and 38, the top cam teeth 3'! being directed to the left, as viewed in Figure 3 and the bottom cam teeth being similarly directed to the left, as view-ed in Figure 3, for the front portion of the valve, as viewed in Figure 3, the cam teeth 31 being substantially similar in shape to the cam teeth 38. Secured in the upper portion of the wall of the sprinkler chamber 23 is an inwardly projecting pin element 39 which is cammingly engageable with the upper cam teeth of the valve member 33 when the valve member is elevated under water pressure, and secured in the lower portion of the wall of the sprinkler chamber 23 is a second inwardly projecting pin member 43 which is cammingly engageable with the lower teeth 38 of the valve member when said valve member descends as a result of the shutting off of the water supply. When the water is turned on, the valve member 33 is elevated by the pressure of water entering the sprinkler chamber 23 through the conduit l4 and the upper cam teeth 31 are engaged by the pin element 39, causing the valve member 33 to be rotated to a position wherein the pin element 33 engages the lowermost notch portion between a set of teeth 31. In this position, one of the sets of exhaust apertures 33, 3| or 32 is in registry with the apertures 34 of the valve member 33, allowing water to be ejected from the sprinkler chamber 23 at an angle determined by the angularity of the exposed apertures 33, 3| or 32. For example, if the apertures 30 are in registry with the aperture 34, the water will discharge from the sprinkler chamber 23 at an angle of 25 from the vertical, and will cover a relatively small area as the sprinkler rotates, because of the steep angle of inclination of the apertures 30. As above stated, the apertures 33 may be inclined at an angle of 25 to the vertical, whereas the apertures 3| are in-- clined at an angle of 35 to the vertical and the apertures 32 are inclined at an angle of 45 to the vertical to cover a relatively wide area as the sprinkler rotates.

When the supply of water is cut off, the valve member 33 descends by gravity and the lower teeth 38 engage the pin element 40. The pin element 40 is arranged so that when said lower teeth 38 engage the pin element 40, the valve member 33 is advanced by the camming action of the teeth 38 with said pin element through substantially one-half of the angle required to bring the apertures 34 into registry with the next set of apertures in the sprinkler chamber 23, around the vertical axis of said sprinkler chamber. When the water is again turned on, the pressure of water elevates the valve member 33 causing the upper teeth 3'! to come into camming engagement with the upper pin element 39, and causing the valve member 33 to be again rotated through the remainder of the necessary angle to bring the aforesaid next set of apertures of the sprinkler chamber into registry with the apertures 34 of the valve member. For example, assuming the steep apertures 30 to first be in registry with the apertures 34, when the water supply is turned off and then turned on again, the camming action provided successively by the engagement of teeth 38 with pin element 43 when the valve member 33 descends and then by the engagement of teeth 37 with pin element 33 as the valve member is raised, rotates the valve member 33 through the angle necessary to bring the apertures 34 into registry with the apertures 3| of the sprinkler chamber. The water then discharging through the apertures 3| leaves the sprinkler chamber at an angle of 35 to the vertical, whereby a wider area is covered by the sprinkler, as it rotates, than the area covered by the water discharging through the steep apertures 30 previously thereto. Similarly, when the water is again turned ofi and then turned on again, the apertures 32 are brought into registry with the discharge apertures 34 of the valve member 33, providing a greater trajectory of the water discharged from the sprinkler head than in either of the two previous stages of operation of the sprinkler, as described above.

It is therefore apparent that the relative area covered by the sprinkler may be adjusted by turning the water on and ofi until the desired sets of apertures 30, 3| or 32 are in registry with the apertures 34 of the valve member 33.

If it is desired to obtain intermediate areas of coverage, this may be accomplished by reducing the volume of water admitted to the sprinkler head.

In a typical design, the teeth 31 and 33 are arranged so that when the water is turned oil, the descent of the valve member 33 advances the valve member 20, and the subsequent engagement of the upper teeth 3? With the pin element 39 advances the valve member another 20, the complete cycle causing the valve member to advance 40. In the above typical design, there is a 40 spacing between the successive apertures 30, 3| and 32.

Referring now to the form or the invention shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, designates the water sprinkler generally, said sprinkler comprising a base l2 of generally conical shape adapted to engage the ground and having rigidly secured thereto the central, vertical fitting l3 provided with the connection conduit l4 adapted to threadedly receive the end fitting of a garden hose. Rigidly secured to the fitting I3 is the upstanding vertical conduit I8 formed near its top end with the annular flange I9. Designated at 20' is a head member which is rotatably mounted on the top end of the conduit l8, said head member having an externally threaded bottom portion 2| which slidably and rotatably engages over the top end of the conduit l8 and which is rotatably secured thereto spective inclined apertures of the chamber responsive to the successive elevation and descent of the valve member resulting from intermittent admission of water under pressure into said chamber and shutting off or the water, whereby the angle of discharge of the water from said inclined discharge apertures is varied.

3. In a hydraulically operated mechanism of the character described, a base, a vertical conduit secured to said base, a cylindrical vertical sprinkler chamber rotatably mounted on said conduit, said chamber being formed with a plurality of respective water discharge apertures inclined upwardly at different angles, said apertures being spaced evenly around a vertical 'axis, a vertically movable hollow cylindrical valve member rotatably mounted in said chamber and arranged to be elevated by the pressure of water admitted into said chamber from said conduit, said valve member being formed with means defining a passageway between the lower end of the valve member and the intermediate portion of the external side surface of the valve member, said means being selectively registrable with the discharge apertures in the chamber when the valve member is elevated under water pressure in said chamber, said valve member being formed at its top and bottom peripheral edges with asymmetrical triangular cam teeth, and inwardly projecting pin elements in the chamber arranged to cammingly engage said teeth and arranged to rotate the valve member successively through angles equal to the angular spacin of the discharge apertures to bring said means successively into registry with the respective inclined apertures of the chamber responsive to the successive elevation and descent of the valve member resulting from intermittent admission of water under pressure into said chamber and shutting off of the water, whereby th angle of discharge of the water from said inclined discharge apertures is varied.

4. In a hydraulically operated mechanism of the character described, a base, a vertical conduit secured to said base, a cylindrical vertical sprinkler chamber rotatably mounted on said conduit, a plurality of radial apertures tubular arms connected to said chamber and arranged to rotate said chamber by the reaction of water discharged from said arms, said chamber being formed with a plurality of respective water discharge apertures inclined upwardly at different angles, said apertures being spaced evenly around a vertical axis, a vertically movable cylindrical valve member rotatably mounted in said chamber and arranged to be elevated by the pressure of Water admitted into said chamber from said conduit. said valve member being formed with conduit means establishing communication between the lower end of the valve member and its external side surface, said conduit means bein selectively registrable with the discharge apertures in the chamber when the valve member is elevated under water pressure in said chamber, said valve member being formed at its top and bottom peripheral edges with triangular cam teeth, and inwardly projecting pin elements in the chamber arranged to cammingly engage said teeth and arranged to rotate the valve member successively through angles equal to the angular spacing of the discharge apertures to bring the conduit means of said valve member successively into registry with the respective inclined apertures of the chamber responsive to the successive elevation and descent of the valve member resulting from intermittent admission of water under pressure into said chamber and shutting off of the water, whereby the angle of discharge of the water from said inclined discharge apertures is varied.

5. In a hydraulically operated mechanism of the character described, a base, a vertica1 conduit secured to said base, a chamber rotatably mounted on said conduit, said chamber being formed with a plurality of respective Water discharge apertures inclined upwardly at difierent angles, said apertures being spaced evenly around a vertical axis, a vertically movable valve member rotatably mounted in said chamber and arranged to be elevated by the pressure of water admitted into said chamber from said conduit, said valve member being provided with conduit means establishing communication between the lower end of the valve member and its external side surface, said conduit means being selectively registrable with the discharge apertures in the chamber, and cooperating means on the valve member and chamber arranged to rotate the valve member successively through angles equal to the angular spacing of the discharge apertures to bring the conduit means of the valve member successively into registry with the respective inclined apertures of the chamber responsive to the successive elevation and descent of the valve member resulting from intermittent admission of water under pressure into said chamber and shutting off of the water, whereby the angle of discharge of the water from said inclined discharge apertures is varied.

6. In a hydraulically operated mechanism of the character described, a base, a vertical conduit secured to said base, a sprinkler chamber rotatably mounted on said conduit, said chamber being formed with a plurality of respective water discharge apertures inclined upwardly at different angles, said apertures being spaced evenly around a vertical axis, a vertically movable valve member rotatably mounted in said chamber and arranged to be elevated by the pressure of water admitted into said chamber from said conduit, said valve member being formed with a groove in its side surface communicating with its lower end and being selectively registrable with the discharge apertures in the chamber, and cooperatin means on said valve member and chamber arranged to rotate the valv member successively through angles equal to the angular spacing of the discharge apertures to bring the groove of said valve member successively into registry with the respective inclined apertures of the chamber responsive to the successive elevation and descent of the valve member resulting from intermittent admission of water under pressure into said chamber and shutting ofi of the water, whereby the angle of discharge of the water from said inclined discharge apertures is varied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,762 Papenfus Jan. 7, 1902 2,090,284 Carlson Aug. 17, 193"! 2,526,958 Landis Oct. 24, 1950 2,545,745 Newton Mar. 20, 1951 2,550,451 Burnam Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 547,477 Germany Apr. 4, 1932 I 

